From Sorrow to Joy

John 16:16-28

Call to Worship: Psalms 139:7-12 (NIV)

⁷      Where can I go from your Spirit?
              Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸      If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
              if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹      If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
              if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰      even there your hand will guide me,
              your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹      If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
              and the light become night around me,”
¹²      even the darkness will not be dark to you;
              the night will shine like the day,
              for darkness is as light to you.

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:6-9 (NLT)

⁶ So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.